I just returned from north India after meeting some experts on ancient Indian secrets on how to stop ageing, stay youthful, look beautiful and vibrate peace.

Despite the congested cities, pollution and daily traffic jams, women from the northern part of India are known for their flawless skin, glowing complexion, shiny hair and radiant natural beauty.

According to the experts I met, having a disciplined lifestyle and following some home-based remedies is the natural approach in creating a pleasant personality.

There is no need for makeup. Once your body is in harmony and in balance, your inner beauty will show outwardly.

Below are a selection of 10 tips shared at the Indian science workshops on living in New Delhi, Jaipur and Kolkata. We also learnt how celebrities like Aishwarya Rai, Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra maintain their attractive looks.

Sleep

You need at least seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep daily to refresh and harmonise your body, mind, energy and spirit.

To encourage sleep, take a warm bath, read a book, meditate to calm your mind or apply some aromatherapy oil on your neck and shoulders.

Getting enough sleep will go a long way towards ensuring a fresh and energetic you.

Avoid sleeping with your head towards the north and legs towards the south. All other sleeping directions are fine.

Stay away from all electronic gadgets an hour before going to bed.

Late nights and poor quality of sleep can affect your growth, skin, hair and you can develop scalp issues.

Oil therapy

The use of an Ayurvedic face pack with natural ingredients promotes a clear complexion, removes impurities and repairs skin imperfections.

Good skin can be maintained by eating fresh vegetables. Photo: AFP

Diet

A balanced diet with a lot of vegetables can keep your skin from disorders, acne and dullness.

Aishwarya prefers home-cooked food and stays away from fried and fattening food as well as alcohol. She eats a lot of vegetables and drinks plenty of water to keep her skin hydrated and renewed. She walks and does light exercises daily.

Kareena is a full-time vegetarian. She eats a lot of vegetables like broccoli, spinach and fenugreek. Her dinner is normally brown rice or chapati, dal, vegetables and curd.

Exercise

One of the most popular forms of exercise in India is yoga and the movements help to shape a curvy body and provide inner and outer peace. It has qualities to ease all types of aches, pain, indigestion and health problems.

Coconut oil

Application of coconut oil on the hair and skin prevents skin problems and removes dark rings around the eyes. It is a natural moisturiser, hydrates skin and stimulates softness.

Milk

Milk is a high source of calcium and regular consumption can strengthen bones, teeth and improve skin smoothness. For a clear complexion, mix some milk with turmeric powder and lemon juice and apply on the face as a mask.

Fresh and powdered turmeric.

Turmeric

Many Indian women apply a turmeric paste when they wake up to remove facial hair and body odour, and for a natural skin glow.

Water

Over 70% of our body is water. Drinking adequate amounts daily flushes out impurities and gives skin a healthy glow.

Lemon

Lemon is regarded as a magical fruit in India because it can work internally and externally, and it is used as a component in almost all Indian skincare products as an enhancer or cleanser. Rich in vitamin C, the application of the juice can lighten dark lines and stretch marks on your body.

Drinking lemon juice mixed with honey on an empty stomach can remove toxins and assist in weight loss.

Saffron

This is a powerful spice specifically aimed at improving complexion. Drinking warm milk mixed with saffron strands over a period of time can brighten your skin.

Make a paste of milk and saffron and apply it to sunburnt areas to remove the tan.

T. Selva is the author of the best-selling book Vasthu Sastra Guide. Follow him on Twitter @tselvas and write to him at drtselvas@gmail.com. This column appears on the last Friday of every month.